'Legend' Murray can be proud of performances: Federer

MELBOURNE: Roger Federer said on Sunday he was
shocked that tennis was to lose "legend" Andy Murray this year and the Scot
should be "incredibly proud" of all he had achieved.

Murray on Friday tearfully declared that his chronic hip injury had
not been eased by surgery a year ago.

He then emotionally revealed that he hoped to end his storied
career at Wimbledon, but admitted the Australian Open may be his
last event because the constant pain was so bad.

"I was disappointed and sad, a little bit shocked, to know now that
we're going to lose him at some point," Federer told reporters on
the eve of the year's first Grand Slam.

"But we're going to lose everybody at some point. It's just now
that it's definite," he added, acknowledging that the era of the
"Big Four" -- himself, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and
Murray was drawing inexorably to a close.

"Of course, it hits us top guys hard because we know Andy very
well. We like him. He doesn't have many enemies, to be quite
honest," the world number three said of the three-time Grand Slam
champion and double Olympic gold medal winner.

"He's a good guy, Hall of Famer, legend. He won everything he
wanted to win. Anybody would substitute their career with his. He's
a great guy."

Murray has won Wimbledon twice and Federer hoped the Scot could
keep playing long enough to be able to say goodbye on the famous
grass courts where the Swiss maestro has won a record eight
titles.

"Of course, I hope that he can play a good Australian Open and he
can keep playing beyond that, really finish the way he wants to at
Wimbledon. That's what I hope for him," said 20-time Grand Slam
champion Federer, who begins his Australian Open title defence
Monday against Denis Istomin.

"It's a tough one, but one down the road he can look back on and be
incredibly proud of everything he has achieved."

Murray was the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years and
will be remembered for battling his way to world number one in 2016
during a golden era for men's tennis alongside Federer, Djokovic
and Nadal.

Murray faces a first-round clash Monday against in-form Spaniard
Roberto Bautista Agut,
seeded 22, who beat Djokovic on his way to winning the Qatar Open
earlier this month.